5 min read
Foods Guinea Pigs Should Never Eat
A clear list of foods guinea pigs should never eat, from onions and chocolate to potatoes and dairy, and what to do if they eat one.
How to use this list
Keep these foods away from guinea pigs completely. If your guinea pig eats one, contact an exotic vet for advice.
Unlimited grass hay, fresh water, a measured amount of guinea pig pellets and a daily cup or so of mixed, suitable vegetables form the core diet. Any single vegetable or fruit is one part of that mix, never a replacement for hay.
Toxic or harmful
- Onions, leeks, chives and spring onions
- Garlic
- Avocado
- Chocolate and caffeine
- Potato plants, green potatoes and peelings
- Tomato leaves and stems
- Fruit pits, stones and apple seeds
Unsuitable for guinea pig digestion
- Bread, crackers and cereals
- Cheese, milk and yogurt drops
- Nuts, seeds and seed mixes
- Meat and eggs
- Sweets, cookies and chips
Unsafe forms of otherwise fine foods
- Cooked or seasoned vegetables
- Dried, canned or sweetened fruit
- Lawnmower clippings
- Plants from sprayed or roadside areas
Check before you feed
Each food has its own guide in the Care Library with portions, preparation and what to avoid. Wheeky Identifier's Food Scanner can also check suitability, vitamin C and serving guidance in one place.
If your guinea pig stops eating, has diarrhea, produces fewer droppings or seems bloated or quiet after a food change, contact an exotic vet promptly. This guide is general education, not veterinary advice.